San Jose Airport Continues Expansion, Southwest Adds More Flights

San Jose International Airport continues its expansion with more flights added by the airport’s largest carrier, Southwest Airlines.

Recent years have seen Alaska Airlines doubling its service to SJC, with Virgin America and Delta Airlines upping flights as well. Japan’s All Nippon Airways agreed to begin daily nonstop service between San Jose and Tokyo, hampered somewhat by electrical problems in ANA’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Service resumed in July after being stalled by federal regulators.

Now, Southwest Airlines is getting in on the action, adding flights to four destinations. Due to increased demand from Valley dwellers, Southwest is adding daily nonstop flights to Denver, San Diego, Seattle and Orange County, effective April 8, 2014.

With SFO at capacity and the Oakland airport a decade away from a much-needed expansion, SJC stands in good position to realize its potential. After its 2010 renovation, it stands as one the most technological advanced airports in the country. It currently only uses 50 percent of its airfield capacity and 65 percent of terminal capacity.

Google executives have sought to capitalize on SJC’s potential as well. Back in April, the San Jose City Council approved a 50-year lease for Signature Flight Services to build an $82 million, 7 hangar facility on what is now a parking lot, according to the Mercury News. Signature will manage on-site the private aircraft fleet owned by Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt.

While the Bay Area’s population is still growing and the tech money is still flowing, SJC seems set to become a major travel hub.